List of Pirate Radio Frequencies

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Pirate shortwave broadcasts tend to be on well-known frequencies (or at least relatively small bands that can be quickly scanned with a traditional radio/receiver or watched/recorded with a SDR). This allows listeners to quickly find a pirate station when it comes on the air, as they only have a relatively few number of fixed places to look. A good place to look to get an idea of what frequencies are in current use is the HF Underground forum. Some of the locations on the HF band that are in frequent use include:

Contents

North American Pirate Radio Frequencies

By far the most active ranges in North America are 43 meters (6800-7000 kHz), 46 meters (6200-6400 kHz) and 73 meters (4000-4200 kHz), with some activity in the 60 meter band (4700-5300 kHz) as well. Some pirates have even shown in in the SWBC bands, including 49, 31 and 25 meters.

Last updated: March 2024

1610-1700 kHz AM - Mediumwave pirates (see also 1710 kHz and 1720 kHz)
1710 kHz AM - Mediumwave pirates
1720 kHz AM - Mediumwave pirates - known as the "AM pirate clear channel"
1730 kHz AM - Mediumwave pirates
3375 kHz AM/USB - used by Amphetamine Radio
4030 kHz AM/USB
4060 kHz AM/USB
4085 kHz AM/C-QUAM - Alternate winter frequency used by X-FM
4185 kHz AM/USB - 73 meter most used frequency
5185 kHz AM - Used by Radio Illuminati
6875 kHz AM/USB
6880 kHz AM/USB
6885 kHz AM/USB
6900 kHz Usually AM, not often used due to QRM from Peskies on LSB
6915 kHz AM/USB
6920 kHz AM/USB
6925 kHz Most common frequency - virtually all modes have been heard +/- 1-2 kHz Many pirate radio listeners park receivers on 6925 kHz.
6930 kHz AM/USB
6935 kHz AM/USB - Heavily used by B Side Radio in North America, also used by many other stations
6940 kHz AM/USB
6950 kHz AM/USB
6955 kHz AM/USB
6960 kHz AM/USB
6969 kHz LSB - Used by Cold Country Canada
6970 kHz AM
6975 kHz AM/USB - Often used by Nowhere Radio (6974.89 kHz AM)
7415 kHz Historically, an extremely active frequency, more recently occupied by WBCQ
7425 kHz Historically, an extremely active frequency prior to the movement down to 43 meters
7475 kHz AM - noted use by YHWH religious pirate (November 2022)
15070 kHz Excellent frequency for long distance, usually used to target an area far from the transmitter

European Pirate Radio Frequencies

European pirates are found mainly in the 46 meter band (6200-6400 kHz) and the 160 meter mediumwave band (1611-1800 kHz). Unlike in North America, mediumwave and shortwave pirates are very different and mediumwave pirates are common (more so than shortwave). AM is nearly always used, so all frequencies are AM unless otherwise noted.

Last updated: December 2022

1440 kHz Used by Energy AM (Ireland) and others
1494 kHz Used by Radio Rock Revolution
1512 kHz Dutch Mediumwave Pirates
1611 kHz Mediumwave Pirates, heavily used
1620 kHz Mediumwave Pirates, heavily used
1629 kHz Mediumwave Pirates
1635 kHz Mediumwave Pirates, favored by Dutch pirates
1640 kHz Mediumwave Pirates
1650 kHz Mediumwave Pirates
1655 kHz Mediumwave Pirates
1660 kHz Mediumwave Pirates
1665 kHz Mediumwave Pirates
1670 kHz Mediumwave Pirates
1675 kHz Mediumwave Pirates
1680 kHz Mediumwave Pirates, used despite a digital ute centered on the frequency
1690 kHz Mediumwave Pirates
1695 kHz Mediumwave Pirates
1700 kHz Heavily used mediumwave Greek QSO frequency
1715 kHz Greek Mediumwave Pirates
1755 kHz Greek Mediumwave Pirates, often used by stations airing unusual formats and/or operating late at night
2975v kHz Russian Pirates
2985v kHz Russian Pirates
2995v kHz Russian Pirates
3030v kHz Russian Pirates
3940 kHz Primary 80 meter frequency
5140 kHz Used by Charleston Radio International
5775 kHz Used by Harmony
5790 kHz Shortwave Pirates
5800 kHz Shortwave Pirates
5810 kHz Shortwave Pirates
5835.2 kHz Used by Radio Europa (UA)
5840 kHz Shortwave Pirates
5870 kHz Shortwave Pirates
5880 kHz Used by Radio Rock Revolution
5940 kHz Shortwave Pirates
5945 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6180 kHz Shortwave Pirates, also used by legal stations (both professional and hobby)
6190 kHz Shortwave Pirates, noted use by Radio Jennifer (December 2022)
6195 kHz Shortwave Pirates, noted use by Radio Blackstone (December 2022)
6205 kHz Shortwave Pirates, noted use by Voice of the Netherlands (December 2022)
6210 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6260 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6262 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6264 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6270 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6275 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6280 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6290 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6293 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6295 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6300 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6320 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6325 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6380 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6400 kHz Shortwave Pirates, upper end of the 46 meter pirate band (most frequencies above this are less used)
6931 kHz Exclusively used by Indy Radio
6940 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6950 kHz Shortwave Pirates
6990 kHz Shortwave Pirates, sometimes LSB mode and also used by Italian Freebanders (also in LSB)
7640 kHz Shortwave Pirates, noted use by Radio Pamela (December 2022)
15070 kHz Used for trying to reach North America, other nearby frequencies also used


Previously Active Pirate Radio Frequencies

  • 1616 - Used by AM pirates in the 1970s and 1980s
  • 1620 - Used by AM pirates in the 1970s and 1980s
  • 1625 - Used by AM pirates in the 1970s and 1980s
  • 1630 - Used by AM pirates in the 1970s and 1980s
  • 6250 - Used in the 1980s
  • 6840 - Used Voice of the Voyager and others in the 1980s
  • 7425 - The most popular pirate frequency in the early 1980s.


Latin American Pirate Frequencies

See also: pescadores, peskies and freebanders

The 43 meter band (6750-7000 kHz) is also heavily used by so-called "peskies" (a play on the Spanish term "pescadores - meaning "fishermen"), stations engaging in two-way radio chatter in Portuguese, Spanish and other languages (including English). Peskies generally use LSB mode. 6925 kHz LSB is one of the most active peskie frequencies, which can cause serious interference issues for pirates operating in AM mode on 6925 kHz or adjacent frequencies. The area around 6900 kHz (including 6895 kHz and 6905 kHz) are also heavily used by Spanish-speaking stations in both USB and LSB modes. Other pirates deliberately interfere with pescadore/freebander communications. There are indications that some, if not most, of the so-called "peskies" are actually land-based stations operating on bootleg frequencies, much like 11 meter freebanders operate above and below the legal 40-channel CB band. The "peskies' have shown up in the following places;

  • 9500-10200 kHz
  • 7400-8100 kHz
  • 6765-7000 kHz
  • 5000-6300 kHz

You can find loggings of Latin American Pirates here.

Some examples of Latin American Pirates
  • 8000 kHz - Radio Casa
  • 6925.1 kHz - RCW Chile
  • 6930 kHz - Radio Pirana (slightly drifty carrier, heard on 6930.1 kHz
  • 6934.9 kHz - AD149 (slightly drifty carrier, 6934.8 kHz, 6934.9 kHz, 6935 kHz)


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